Nikon raises bar with fresh flagship DSLR

XQD debuts on high ISO snapper

Nikon has unveiled a new flagship DSLR, catering for the professional market and those with extremely fat wallets.

The Nikon D4 may cost just short of five grand, but it packs in over 45 new or improved features than that of its predecessor. The freshly developed 16.2Mp FX format sensor throws in the most recent Expeed 3 image processor for super-fast shooting speeds and varied lighting conditions.

It also raises the ISO bar, excelling up to 12800 and boasting 11fps capture rates with optimised noise reduction.

When it comes to video capabilities, the D4 handles 1080p in varying framerates, 30fps, 25fps and 24fps, as well as super slow-mo clips at 60fps in a 720p resolution.

Connectivity has been upgraded too, with Wi-Fi support available through a WT-5 wireless transmitter as well as a wired connection.

On the rear you'll find a 3.2in LCD display with a 921,000 dot resolution and automatic brightness control.

Then there are two slots for memory expansion, a high-speed UDMA 7 CompactFlash card slot and for the first time on a camera, an input for the new Sony XQD format.

The Nikon D4 is set for ship on 16 February for £4800, where it will challenge other high-end DSLRs for the crown of top dog in the premium camera category. ®